Farhan Akhtar Explains the Secret of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’s Success

Posted by admin on Jul 24th, 2011 | 0 comments

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has been declared a super hit. It is raining hits for Bollywood with back to back hits, following Double Dhamaal, Delhi Belly, Murder 2 and now ZNMD. Farhan says that there were very clear that they would not compromise in any way with the script. He says, “With my partner Ritesh Sidhwani and me doing what comes naturally to us is every important. There had have been no point in saying, Let’s do a film about three guys on a holiday in Spain. Sounds really exciting. But let’s cheat and shoot it in Madh Island.”

Reacting to criticism from some quarters saying that the film is a mere tour guide to Spain, Farhan explains, “Not really. Of course ZNMD does showcase Spain because the characters are traveling through the country. But that’s like saying Sideways endorses alcoholism. Of course Spanish tourism board was extremely helpful. They assisted us in every way possible. They allowed us to shoot on the streets and even recreated Spanish festivals. The Tomatina and the Running of the Bulls festivals were recreated for our camera.”

He says that the family is quite happy with the way the movie has fared in the box office. “There’s a general sense of elation in the family about the success of ZNMD…..Pa (Javed Akhtar), Mom (Honey Irani) and Shabana. The success of this film is something that Zoya really needed to happen after her first film Luck By Chance. She was confused about what would work and what wouldn’t. We’re really happy for her. I am truly grateful to Naseeruddin Shah for doing the cameo of my father. I can’t imagine anyone else doing it.”

Are the Spanish as besotted by Bollywood as the Germans? Farhan says, “We were not mobbed much. It’s sad. But not too many Indian films release in Spain. The actor they knew was Hrithik. They had seen him in Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai. Hopefully after ZNMD they’ll start watching lot more Indian movies.”